The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-12-08

conceive the present system OF tariff taxa
tion directly offered them.
So stubbornly have all efforts to reform
the present condition been resisted by those
of our fellow citizens thus engaged that
they can hardly complain of the suspicion,
entertained to a certain extent that there ex-
lists an organized combination all along the
line to maintain their advantage. We are in
the midst of centennial celebrations and
with becoming pride we rejoice in Ameri-
can skill and ingenuity in American energy
and enterprise, and in the wonderful natu-
raj advantages and resources developed by
century's National growth. Yet when an
attempt is made to justify a scheme which
permits a tax to be laid upon every con-
sumner in the land for the benefit of our
manufacturers, quite beyond reasonable
demand for governmental regard, it suits
the purposes of advocacy to call our manu-
factures infant industries still needing the
highest and greatest degree Of favor and
fastening care that can be wrung from
federal legislation. 1t is also stated that
the increase in the price Of domestic manu-
factures resulting from the present tariff is
necessary in order that higher wages may be
paid to our workingmen employed in manu-
factories, than are paid for what IL called
the pauper labor Of Europe.
All will acknowledge the force Of an argu-
ment which involves the welfare and liberal
compensation Of our labor is honorable in
the eyes Of every American citizen; and as
it lies at the foundation Of our dev slopment
and progress 1t is entitled, without afRecta-
tion or hypocracy, to the utmost regard
The standard of our laborers life should not
be measured by that Of any other country
less favored, and they are entitled to their
full share Of our advantages. By the last
census it is made to- appear that Of the II,
392,0 ,099 Of our population engaged in all
kinds Of industries, 1870, 493 are employed
in agriculture, 4,O74, 23S in professional and
personal service, (2,934, S76 of whom are
domestic servants and laborers,) whit
1910, EST are employed in trade and trans
portation, aud 8,s5I1l3 are classed as en-.
ployed in manufacturing and mining.
For present purposes, however, the last
number given should be considerably re-
duced. Without attempting to enumerate
all, 1t will be conceded that there should be
deducted from those which it includes 375,-
143 carpenters and joiners, 295, 40l milliners,
dressmakers and seamstresses; l72, 726 black
smiths, 1873, ,756 tailors and tailoresses, l09-
473 masons, ~, 24l butchers, Al, 800 bakers,
22,093 plasterers, and 4, 391 engaged in man.
utacturing agricultural implements,
amounting in the aggregate to .,9l4, 0&3,
leaving q 1923, 0S9 persons employed in such
manufacturing industries, as are claimed to
be benefited by q high tariff. To these the
appeal is made to save their employ ment,
and maintain their wages by resisting a
change.
There should be no disposition to answer
such suggestions by the allegation that they
are in a minority among those who labor,
and therefore should forego an advantage,
in the interest Of low prices for the ma
jority; their compensation, as it may be af.
fected by the operation of tariff laws,
should at all times be scrupulously kept in
view; and yet with slight repletion they
will not overlook the fact that they are con-
sumers with the rest; that they, too, have
their own wants and those of their families
to supply from the earnings, and that the
price Of the necessarie5 of life as we'll as
the amount of their wages, will regulate the
measure of their welfare and comfort. But
the reduction of taxation demanded should
be so measured as not to necessitate or jus
tify the loss of employment by the working
man, nor lessen MS wages the profits still
remaining to the manufacturer r after
necessary readjustment should furnish no
excuse for the sacrifice of the interested of
his employees either in their opportunity to
work or in the deminution of their compen-
sation. Nor can the worker in manufac-
lures fail to understand that while high
tariff is claimed to be necessary to allow
the payment Of remunerative wagers it GER
tainly resulted in very large increase in
the price of nearly all sorts of manufac.
kr-a xuhiob iVpa noItntlaSa ha
needs for the use of himself and his family
He receives at the desk of his employer his
wages, and perhaps before he reaches his
home is Obliged in purchase for family
use of an article which embraces his own
labor, to return in the payment of the in ;
crease in price which the tariff permits the
hard earned compensation of m any days Of
toll.
The farmer and the agriculturalist, who
manufacture nothing but wh1 pay the in
creased price which the tariff imposes, upon
every agricultural implement, upon all he
wears and upon all he uses and owns ex-
cept the increase of his flocks and herds and
such things as in his husbandry produces
from the soil, is invited to aid in main
tanning the present situation, and he is told
that high duty on imported wool is neces-
sary for the benefit of those who have sheep
to shear, in order that the price Of their
wool may be increased. They, of course,
are not reminded that the farmer who has
no sheep is this scheme obliged, in his pur-
chasss Of clothing and woolen goods, to pay
tribute to his fellow farmer as well as to
the manufacturer and merchant; nor is any
mention made Of the fact that the sheep
owners themselves aud their households,
must wear clothing and use other articles
manufactured from the wool. They sell at
tariff prices and thus ds consumers must
return their share Of this increased price to
the tradesman.
think it may be fairly assumed that a
large proportion Of the sheep owned by the
farmers throughout the country are found
In small hocks numbering from twenty-five
to fifty. The duty on this grade Of imported
wool which these sheep yield is ten cents
each pound II Of the value Of thirty cents or
less, and twelve cents If Of the value Of
more than thirty cents. II the liberal esti-
mate Of six pounds be allowed for each
fleece, the duty thereon would be sixty or
seventy-two cents, and this may be taken
as the utmoat enhancement of its price to
the farmer by reason Of this duty. Eight
cen dollars would thus represent the in
creased price OF the wool from twenty-five
sheep and S36 that from the wool of fifty
sheep; and at present values this addition
would amount to about one-third Of its
price If upon its sale the farmer receives
this or a less tariff profit, the wool leaves
his hands charged with precisely that sum,
which in all its changes will adhere to it,
until it reaches the consumer. When man
ufactured into cloth and other goods and
material for use its cost is not only in
creased to the extent of the farmers tariff
profit, but a further sum has been added
for the benefit OF the manufacturer under
the operation Of other tariff laws.
In tho meantime the day arrives when the
farmers find it necessary to purchase wooden
nnoda and nakarial To clnkha hinaalf and